04/17/2023
When was the last time that you instantly dropped everything you were doing and rushed to see something, or someone? Have you ever abandoned everything you owned to pursue a dream, or the hope in something? How about your faith?
“That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.”
John 21:7 ESV
After the resurrection of Jesus, He appeared to Peter and several others while they were fishing. He yelled out to them to cast their net on the right side of the boat and when they did their nets were filled with fish. They really didn't know it was Jesus who had instructed them, but when one of them said it was Him, Peter immediately dressed, threw himself into the sea and swam to meet him.
I was raised in a military family and my father was often away from home for extended periods of time, but when he returned, and I would hear someone yell "Daddy is home!" I would drop whatever I was doing and run to him. I would throw myself in his arms and with the entire family we would celebrate his homecoming. Often when he left home, there was the possibility he would be killed and not return. His homecomings were always joyous.
This was the case with Peter. Jesus had died, and was raised again. He had shown himself to the apostles before, but each time He left them, there was a doubt among them that they would see Him again. Peter was beside himself with joy at just the mention of Jesus, and left all he owned floating on the water to go straightway to Him.
Have you had moments like that in your life? Do you have moments like Peter’s in your faith? If you heard a sound like a clap of thunder, heard the uproar of a great multitude crying out "Hallelujah!", and saw Jesus descending from heaven, would you immediately drop everything you owned and leave everyone you loved to run to Him? Or, would you look back? In three of the four Gospels (Matthew 19:29; Mark 20:29-30; Luke 18:29) we read of Jesus saying:
“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.”
Matthew 19:29 ESV
Is this the reward you would seek, or would just being with Him be enough? I find it interesting that rewards are not what Job was seeking, or in this New Testament case, what Peter was seeking. Rewards are given to us for faith, love, and sacrifice without regard to one’s self. Otherwise, these would cease to be rewards and instead become payments... our actions, when done for reward, don't place God first, but our own gratification instead. What comes first as we seek Jesus?
“And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.”
Job 42:10 ESV
If a pastor is truly called by God and Jesus is the focus of his life... his first question to a new church calling will not be "how much will I be paid?” If a speaker called by God to spread the Word is invited to speak at a gathering, the first thing he asks will not be "what will my speaking fee be?” God will be trusted to provide when it is He who has called them.
So we should be ready to run to Him when we hear the uproar of "Hallelujah!" We should love Him more than life itself. Even if Jesus doesn't return before our death, we will leave all we own and all those we love to enter into death and to be with Him... are you ready for that moment? Will you be dragged into death, or leave this life with the final words "Jesus lives" on your lips for your loved ones to hear? With our final breath will we rush to meet Him?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your love and the many blessings you have bestowed upon me. Thank you for the sacrifice of your Son Jesus Christ, who died that I might be made pure and without sin in your presence. Lord, as much as I love my life, my family, and all those I hold dear, help me every day, and certainly in my final hour, to realize a love for you that is greater than even these. Help me to know that as I leave this world to come into your presence, so will they, and that in eternity we will be reunited as we praise you. Father, never let me seek reward over you... not even those rewards you bestow. Let nothing come before you in my life. If I am on my boat in the sea, I pray that like Peter I will not hesitate for an instant to adorn myself in faith and abandon my boat for Jesus, leaving all I have to be with Him in your presence. I pray that I will not think twice about stepping out into a raging sea, or to swim to shore to be with you. Abba, let my love for you generate an excitement in me at not only your appearance, but simply by the mere mention of your name. My gift and reward is your love… realized in your Son Jesus.
“"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 ESV
Rich Forbes